Song of the Day: Those Darlins – Be Your Bro

Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part of our Song of the Day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased tracks, and recordings from independent artists that our DJs think you should hear. Each and every Friday we offer songs by local artists. Today’s selection, featured on The Afternoon Show with Kevin Cole is “Be Your Bro” from Those Darlins from their 2011 album Screws Get Loose on Oh Wow Dang Records.

Coming out of a college town, Murfreesboro, south of Nashville, Those Darlins aim more to be like garage punk Ramones with a twinge of cowpunk, rather than follow a strickly country/folk angle. They cite 60s-era Rolling Stones and The Shangri-Las, and share a true admiration for Nick Lowe. In 2009, they released their debut and after working the Nashville music scene took their live show to the rest of the country, selling out shows and turning it all loose.

True to what their name suggests, this rough and tumble crew is made up of Kelly Darlin, Nikki Darlin and Jessi Darlin (main songwriter and conceptualist) while Those Darlins’ lone male member, as it were, drummer Linwood Regensburg, provides a thunderous beat on the drum kit. Today’s featured song, “Be Your Bro,” is a heavy, irreverent tune that plays with the idea behind oddities in romantic interactions and humorously acknowledges the precariousness of platonic relations. “I just want to run and play in the dirt with you, You just want to stick it in,” Jessi sings, emphasizing on ongoing theme of hanging with cute boys and having fun with a fuzzy campfire tune and innocently blunt lyrics.

They’ll be cruising around the U.S on an official tour and are hijacking the Crocodile for your rock and roll pleasure this Saturday supporting Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears. Their live show is not to be missed, and it is just as raucous and even more energized than you might expect, even after hearing today’s Song of the Day. You can find more tour dates and information on their website and Facebook page. As an added bonus, check out the official video for “Be Your Bro”: